Local teen earns Girl Scout Silver Award

Sunday

A local teen’s leadership and initiative and has earned her one of the Girl Scouts organization’s highest honors.

A local teen’s leadership and initiative and has earned her one of the Girl Scouts organization’s highest honors.

Stephanie Taylor of Hubert was recently awarded with the Girl Scout Silver Award by North Carolina Coastal Pines, the second highest achievement in the organization.

The Silver Award recognizes the work of Girl Scout cadettes who demonstrate leadership skills by earning 50 hours or more dedicated toward a service project that makes a difference in their communities. The Croatan High School freshman has been a Girl Scout since 2005 and is a member of Girl Scout Troop #1693 led by Paula Blivin and Pam Drews.

Stephanie, 14, used her project to raise money through car washes and bake sales to buy materials to finish a kayak trail at Hammonds Beach State Park. She also worked with park employee Paul Donnelly to construct and install the trail at the park.

“I decided to go out and find something to do and we were working with the oyster reef on Jones Island and we found out about the project by talking to the rangers,” Stephanie said. “They wanted projects done but they didn’t have the funds to do it.”

It took Stephanie a little over a year to complete her project, which serves to give residents a new way to stay in shape and spend the day exploring nature.

“They have a way to get out and exercise,” Stephanie said. “Most people don’t like to going the gym and running so they can go kayaking with their families and get exercise. It was a lot of fun because I made a lot of new friends at Hammocks Beach and they all influenced me to keep going after my dreams.”

In addition to Girl Scouting, Taylor is a member of her school band and chorus, active at her church and serves as member of the N.C. State Beekeepers Association. Her mother Julie Taylor said that Stephanie and her younger sister Sarah have taken great appreciation of Girl Scouts and the value of leadership. Last year, they sold a total of boxes of 1,300 Girl Scout cookies and plan to another goal of 1,500 when cookie sales launch next weekend.

“I was in a girl scout troop for a couple of years when I was growing up … they’ve both shown an interest early on and decided that’s what they wanted to do and it helps with college applications and grants,” Julie said. “They’ve been to camp to become (Counselors in training) and finished first steps in that and actually work at summer camps.”

Stephanie, who hopes to become a troop leader or an assistant troop leader one day, is a step closer to earning the Girl Scout Gold Award. She encourages other cadettes to work hard and strive for every goal in Girl Scouts and beyond.

“I would tell them to just keep trying and someday in the near future you will accomplish your goals and dreams,” she said.